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eMOLT Update 2025-04-04
Weekly Recap
We continue to navigate the complexities of changing business rules,
staffing changes, and uncertainties
around contracts with external partners. On the business rules
front, we received welcome clarification that no cost travel is limited
by the number of hours worked and traveled in one day (must be < 12)
rather than the number of miles driven. That gives us more flexibility
to get around and work in ports, at least in Southern New England.
Under our previous travel guidance earlier this week, Huanxin went up
to Cohasset on his own to upgrade the hardware aboard the F/V Ryan
Joseph. Thanks to Capt. Joe for taking the time. Thanks also to Richard
and the maintenance crew aboard the F/V American Eagle for letting
Huanxin and George aboard last week to run some wiring while the
wheelhouse is being upgraded. We’ll head back over to finish the deckbox
installation once everything’s put back together.

Figure 1 – Huanxin tightens up some of the 100 feet of wire we
ran aboard the F/V American Eagle in preparation for installing their
eMOLT system.
This week, the eMOLT fleet recorded 191 tows of sensorized fishing
gear totaling 360 sensor hours underwater. The warmest recorded bottom
temperature was 52.1 F near Hudson Canyon in approximately 84 fathoms
(red profile) and the coldest recorded bottom temperature was 39.2 F off
Gloucester in approximately 16 fathoms (blue profile). Below, you can
see these profiles plus a few other temperature profiles of interest
across the region from the last week.

Figure 2 – Temperature profiles collected by eMOLT participants
over the last week. The blue profile is where the coldest bottom
temperature was measured and the red profile is where the warmest bottom
temperature was measured. All other colors are assigned randomly.
Colored points on the map indicate where profiles of the same color were
collected. The small dark green dots represent other profiles collected
this week, but not highlighted in the plot. Note that the warmest /
coldest bottom temperatures measured could have occurred during gear
soaks, which are not represented on this profile plot.
System Hardware Upgrade List
The following vessels remain on our list for hardware upgrades. If
you aren’t on the list and think you should be, please reach out.
Note that this list is different from our new install
queue.
- F/V Kaitlyn Victoria
- F/V Kyler C
- F/V Noella C
- F/V Sea Watcher I
Bottom Temperature Forecasts
Doppio
This week, 49.1% of bottom temperature observations were within 2
degrees (F) of the Doppio forecasted value at those points. The forecast
performed well in Massachusetts Bay, out on Eastern Georges Bank, and
immediately south of Long Island, but struggled to resolve some of the
dynamics around Hudson Caynon and east towards New Jersey.

Figure 3 – Performance of the Doppio forecast’s bottom
temperature layer over the last week relative to observations collected
by eMOLT participants. Red dots indicate areas where bottom temperature
observations were warmer that predicted. Blue dots indicate areas where
bottom temperature observations were cooler than predicted. Bottom
temperature observations are compared with the most recent forecast run
available before the observation was made.

Figure 4 – The most recent Doppio bottom temperature forecast.
The gray line is the 50 fathom line and the black line is the hundred
fathom line. Purple shades indicate cooler water.
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System

Figure 5 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System GOM7 model. The gray line is the
50 fathom line and the black line is the hundred fathom line. Purple
shades indicate cooler water.

Figure 6 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System MassBay model. Purple shades
indicate cooler water.
Announcements
CRB is Compiling a List of Vessels Interested in Cooperative
Research
In an effort to expand partnerships between fishermen and scientists,
we are ramping up a new initiative to create a list of fishing vessels
interested in participating in cooperative research. We have created
forms for vessels to sign up to participate in cooperative research,
from environmental monitoring to biological sampling to industry based
surveys to conservation gear engineering … the opportunities are
endless! Many scientists want to work with fishermen, but it is
difficult to know who to contact or where to start. The intent of this
effort is to make connections between scientists and fishing industry
members.
- If you already participate in cooperative research and want to
continue to do so, please fill out this
form
- If you do not currently participate in cooperative research, but
want to, please fill out this
form
- If you know other captains or owners who are interested in
participating in cooperative research, please share this form/link
with them
- If you don’t want to deal with an online form but want to sign up,
call Anna Mercer (774-392-7603)
None of the information provided through this form will be shared
publicly. It will only be used to make connections between individual
researchers and fishermen. We hope this effort will expand collaboration
opportunities for the years to come!
Contribute to the 2026 Management Track Fishery Stock
Assessments
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center seeks input from our regional
assessment partners, including the fishing industry (commercial and
recreational), state agency scientists, academic researchers, and
interested members of the public to help guide development of our next
Management
Track Assessments.
Specifically, the NEFSC is looking for on-the-water observations or
data sets on topics such as distribution, stock health, fishing dynamics
and management, and the role these stocks play in the ecosystem.
June 2026 Management Track Stocks include
- Atlantic herring
- Butterfish
- Georges Bank Atlantic cod
- Georges Bank haddock
- Longfin inshore squid
- Ocean quahog
Disclaimer
The eMOLT Update is NOT an official NOAA document. Mention of
products or manufacturers does not constitute an endorsement by NOAA or
Department of Commerce. The content of this update reflects only the
personal views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
views of NOAA Fisheries, the Department of Commerce, or the United
States.
All the best,
-George and JiM
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